Best Social-Emotional Picture Books
Is your child feeling anxious, angry, or struggling to adapt to change? Books can be a great tool to help children process big feelings and create more positive behaviors and coping skills. Check out our favorite engaging Social-Emotional/SEL titles below.
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Tilda Tries Again
by Tom Percival
Tilda has everything just the way she likes it. But all of a sudden, her world turns upside down. What is she supposed to do when nothing feels the way it should? A wonderful book about perseverance and adapting to change.
Tilda Tries Again is one title in the Big Bright Feelings series. We highly recommend the whole series!
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The Rabbit Listened
by Corri Doerrfield
This sweet and whimsical story features Taylor, a young child dealing with disappointment. Animals pop in and respond in a variety of ways, but it takes the rabbit to understand what Taylor really needs. A New York Times Bestseller that received critical acclaim (including several starred reviews and Best Of lists), this book is a wonderful tool for families on navigating disappointment, supporting others, and discussing a variety of emotional responses and needs.
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Don't Blow Your Top
by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Abhi Alwar
Little Volcano has a bit of an anger problem, especially when unexpected things occur. This book is a great tool for children who struggle with anger, tantrums, or managing their emotions, as they can learn to breathe, count, and think happy thoughts alongside Little Volcano. A fun readaloud, Don’t Blow Your Top is equal parts humorous and helpful.
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Buffalo Fluffalo
by Bess Kalb, illustrated by Erin Kraan
This #1 New York Times Bestseller features the titular character Buffalo Fluffalo – who is big, tough, and has definitely had enuffalo. The silly rhyming text makes this a blast to read aloud, and the relatable themes of self-acceptance and friendship add an extra layer of depth to the fun tale.
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Ruby Finds a Worry
by Tom Percival
Another great title in the Big Bright Feelings series. Ruby is happy and confident, until one day, a Worry shows up. Portrayed as a little yellow creature, her Worry grows and grows the more she thinks about it. After realizing she is not the only person with a Worry and talking about what is on her mind, her Worry shrinks and eventually disappears. This book is a great tool that emphasizes that it’s normal for worries to show up sometimes, but talking about them helps!
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The Worrysaurus
by Rachel Bright, illustrated by Chris Chatterton
This book features the cutest little dinosaur who struggles with being anxious. With a rhyming text and adorable illustrations, this title is a great choice for little worriers as, along with Worrysaurus, they too can learn to focus on and enjoy the present instead of thinking about what could go wrong. An important topic presented in a fresh and accessible way.
We love the entire DinoFeelings series, all of which focus on social-emotional topics and, of course, dinosaurs!
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The Boy with Big, Big Feelings
by Britney Winn Lee, illustrated by Jacob Souva
Part of The Big, Big series, this rhyming book is a wonderful choice for kids with lots of emotions. It follows a little boy as he reacts to a variety of situations with tears, anger, and even happiness. Kids will relate to the struggles of being sensitive, but this book affirms that it’s okay to have big feelings and you don’t need to hide them. A relatable and encouraging tale.
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